The dire economic situation in which we found ourselves over the past several years is not a result of economic forces alone, argues George Soros, but of the policies pursued, and not pursued, by world leaders. The chairman of Soros Fund Management and the founder of a global network of foundations dedicated to supporting open societies, Soros here presents his views and analysis of key economic policy choices leading up to, during, and following the financial crisis of 2008–2009. He explores domestic and international policy choices like how to manage the (then) potential implosion of Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, deploying measures to stem global contagion from the subprime crisis, alternative options on bailing out lesser developed countries—and why this was vital—and the structural problems of European economic management.

"Soros is someone who has made his billions ... anticipating the reaction of markets to ordinary realities, pleasant and otherwise—so it's well worth paying attention to his views on the world's financial systems.... A bracing read."—Kirkus Reviews

"Soros has called himself 'a failed philosopher.' He's actually a rarer species: A pathologist of market linkages and psychology—a man who quickly grasps how an unhealthy growth of credit here will morph into a morbid bubble there. His diagnoses are clear, whether he's describing commodity index investing or former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's flawed plan to purchase distressed mortgage-backed securities."—Bloomberg

"The current financial crisis is explained concisely with eloquence. Understanding what is happening and what is to be done is reason enough to read Financial Turmoil.... Dr. Soros shows us once again in these essays that he is not only a competent trader; he is an admirable thinker, and an adept policy analyst. If we were all as good at political economy as he is there would be no financial bubbles—and there would probably be less financial turmoil."—NYJournal of Books